Canada Sail Grand Prix Data Dive: What The Numbers Reveal

Take a deeper dive into the numbers to see what really happened in Halifax

Published 06/24/2026

The 2026 Canada Sail Grand Prix saw history made with four boats contesting the Final for the first time, while split-fleet racing was instigated from the start.

But what really happened on the unpredictable waters of Halifax Harbor? Changeable conditions from one race to the next left teams scrambling to adapt and made for incredibly open racing across the weekend.

Welcome to the Data Dive…

1. Speedy Spanish untouchable in heavy air

When the true wind speed (TWS) peaked at 17.4mph (28 km/h) during Race 3B on Sunday, Los Gallos put on an absolute clinic in high-wind boat handling.

They hit the start line at 36.4mph (58.6 km/h) - the fastest start of any boat in the race - while being just two meters away from an early penalty.

From there, Diego Botín’s crew were untouchable. Spain recorded a top speed of 51.5mph (82.9 km/h), making them the fastest boat of the entire weekend. They compounded this raw speed with great execution, staying on the foils for 99.8% of the race and sailing the shortest distance in the fleet (7,206 meters).

When you combine the fleet's fastest start, highest top speed, and shortest distance sailed, the result is a dominant, wire-to-wire race win.

2. Artemis lays down a marker in Final

The Swedes did not make the start they would have wanted to in the Final – but they soon made up for lost time.

After crossing the start line at 29.8mph (48 km/h), Nathan Outteridge’s team found themselves in dirty air, rounding Mark 1 in P4 behind Spain, Explora Journeys Swiss, and the BONDS Flying Roos.

However, they refused to panic. In a race where passing is notoriously difficult, Artemis executed three crucial overtakes, methodically picking off every boat in the fleet.

Even though Spain and Switzerland had slightly higher average raw speeds, Sweden sailed a cleaner race. They maintained a 97.4% flight time through the turbulent wake of the leaders, waiting for the right moments to strike, and came home P2 in just their second Final since joining the fleet this season.

3. The U.S. SailGP Team demonstrates impressive efficiency

The U.S. SailGP Team didn't just win Race 4B, they sailed the most mathematically efficient race of the fleet. It started at the gun – they nailed the timing, crossing just 1.6 meters behind the line at 28.9mph (46.6 km/h).

But where they truly won the race was in their routing. The Crew sailed the shortest total distance of any boat on the water (7,167 meters). By staying on the foils 100% of the time and minimizing extra distance, they recorded the highest Velocity Made Good (VMG) in the fleet at 20.2mph (32.5 km/h).

In SailGP, raw speed is great, but VMG - the actual speed made toward the mark - is what wins races, and the USA executed perfectly to beat Red Bull Italy and Switzerland to the finish.

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